Greatest Concern and Fear:Could Saudi Arabia Be the Next ISIS Conquest?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span style="font-size: large;">With ISIS on the border, Saudi Arabia is nervous about the terrorist incursion, but remains the source of its greatest support</span></b></span><br /> <div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div> <div class="article-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ISIS is continuing its blitz-like offensive in Iraq, conquering more and more territory. With its sights set on Baghdad and the Shiite shrine cities, the prospect of the capital falling to the terrorist group is causing international panic. And Iraq’s neighbors, particularly Saudi Arabia, could be the next trophy in ISIS’ expanding cabinet.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The extremist Sunni group wants to reestablish the Islamic caliphate, and has made it abundantly clear that its territorial ambitions are not limited to Syria and Iraq. Maps circulating online over the weekend, allegedly from ISIS but whose provenance could not be established, show large swathes of Africa and Asia, as well as the entire Middle East, draped in black, denoting the group’s alleged geographical ambitions.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-image" id="post-item-91736" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 526px;"> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><div class="image-container" style="border: 1px solid rgb(25, 25, 25); box-sizing: border-box; height: 356.32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 526px;"> <table class="image-wrapper" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 362px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 524px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <tr style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Saudi ISIS Casualty2" class="vocativ-image-version-top-left-dark vocativ-image-version-top-right-dark vocativ-image-version-bottom-left-dark vocativ-image-version-bottom-right-dark" height="420" src="http://media.vocativ.com/photos/2014/06/Saudi-ISIS-Casualty21081396899.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-height: 354.32px; max-width: 524px; width: auto;" width="620" /></span></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <div class="image-caption-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 10px 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 526px;"> <div class="post-item-type-caption" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> This map was shared widely on social media over the weekend, with other variations showing a push further into Europe. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With the Iraqi military fleeing their positions and giving way with relative ease to ISIS forces, the terrorist insurgency has poured south into Iraq and <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/isis-takes-control-rutba-iraqs-western-border-jordan-1608548" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">reached </a>as far west as Rutba, a town just 70 miles from Iraq’s borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia. ISIS now controls most of Iraq’s western territory. Since the capture of Rutba, nerves have started to show in Saudi Arabia. Both worried Saudis and ISIS supporters tweeted a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89_%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9?src=hash" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">hashtag</a> translating to #ISISOnSaudiBorder tens of thousands of times within a span of a few hours on Sunday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Since the capture of Rutba, ISIS supporters online have begun circulating maps showing the group’s proximity to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, <a href="https://twitter.com/AbuBakrAl_Janab/status/480971205688954881/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">hinting at its next likely advance into Saudi territory</a>.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-html" id="post-item-91750" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 55px; max-width: 570px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 526px;"> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; bottom: -45px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><div class="post-item-html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><iframe frameborder="0" height="450" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=206503076099972915830.0004fb81021906110e889&t=m&source=embed&ll=34.452218,42.758789&spn=16.277443,26.323242&z=5&iwloc=0004fc7550de1516189b1&output=embed" style="border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="600"></iframe></span></div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If ISIS were to penetrate the border, the group’s first stop would probably be the Saudi town of Arar, where the Saudi military is stationed. Saudi authorities <a href="http://www.aawsat.net/2010/07/article55249916" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">closed </a>this border crossing during Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-tweets" id="post-item-91717" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 1.2em; max-width: 570px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px;"> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; bottom: -45px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><h2 class="post-item-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"It is only five and a half hours between Rutba and Arar."</span></span></h2> <div class="post-item-tweet" style="border: 3px solid rgb(253, 38, 38); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 55px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 5px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px; z-index: 5;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=999419606" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img class="tweet-avatar" height="48" src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/479368297087918080/YxGRdfc8_normal.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="48" /></span></a><div class="tweet-contents" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 65px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h4 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <a class="tweet-date" href="https://twitter.com/31_e1/status/480517589706502144" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">06/22/14 01:08 UTC</span></span></a><a class="tweet-username" href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=999419606" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">@31_E1<span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px;"></span></span></a></h4> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">واقترب الوعد الحق مسيرة خمس ساعات ونصف من #الرطبة ل #عرعر #الدولة_الإسلامية_على_حدود_السعودية</span></div> <div class="tweet-actions" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; margin: -9px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a class="tweet-reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=480517589706502144" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-reply" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=480517589706502144" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-retweet" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-favorite" href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=480517589706502144" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-star" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a></span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If Saudi Arabia does become the next ISIS target, it may be even easier than the group’s push into Iraq. A groundswell of ideological support combined with wide-reaching corruption could pave the way for ISIS’ penetration into the country. Saudi Arabia, unlike Iraq, is almost 90 percent Sunni. Iraq’s growing resistance to ISIS comes largely via the swelling ranks of a Shiite militia, the Mahdi army, with Shiite fighters returning from Syria to defend their country against the radical Sunni insurgency that is sweeping the nation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Saudi is also a major source of support for ISIS. Since the latest offensive in Iraq, hashtags translating to #TheAgeOfTheISISConquest and #ABillionMuslimsForTheVictoryOfTheIsis have overwhelming been originating from Saudi Arabia. Almost 95 percent of all mentions of the latter hashtag emanated from Saudi Arabia over the last week, by far eclipsing those from Iraq and Syria, where the ISIS is actually operating at present. The geographic distribution of those mentions covers the entire Saudi Arabian territory.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-image" id="post-item-91728" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 526px;"> <h2 class="post-item-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Distribution of geo-tagged pro-ISIS tweets in Saudi Arabia</span></span></h2> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><div class="image-container" style="border: 1px solid rgb(25, 25, 25); box-sizing: border-box; height: 356.32px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 526px;"> <table class="image-wrapper" style="border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: 362px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 524px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <tr style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="ISIS Tweet distribution Saudi2" class="vocativ-image-version-top-left-light vocativ-image-version-top-right-light vocativ-image-version-bottom-left-light vocativ-image-version-bottom-right-light" height="420" src="http://media.vocativ.com/photos/2014/06/ISIS-Tweet-distribution-Saudi22867363443.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-height: 354.32px; max-width: 524px; width: auto;" width="620" /></span></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Saudi support for the ISIS traces back to the conflict in Syria. Approximately 1,000 and 2,000 Saudi nationals have been <a href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/syria-world/saudis-fight-syria/?preview_id=54852&post_item=54858#post-item-54858" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">involved in fighting</a> inside Syria, with several hundreds believed to have already returned home. The Saudi government in February issued a <a href="http://www.alriyadh.com/en/article/907177/royal-order-participants-in-hostilities-outside-the-kingdom-receive-3-20-years-in-prison" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">royal decree</a> banning Saudis from fighting in foreign conflicts. Both the Syrian and Iranian governments have drawn attention to purported financial links between ISIS and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. Syrian state media directly accused Saudi Arabia of funding ISIS in an<a href="http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/saudi-behind-isis-onslaught-iraq-syrian-state-media" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">editorial on June 12</a>, while the Iranian leader President Hassan Rouhani made a thinly veiled reference to “Muslim countries that support the terrorists with their petrodollars” in remarks on the website of the Iranian state broadcaster in recent days.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to some, ISIS already maintains a presence in the country and even has sympathizers in the Saudi military.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-tweets" id="post-item-91721" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 1.2em; max-width: 570px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px;"> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; bottom: -45px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><h2 class="post-item-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We are not on the border. We are here in Saudi and this is our land."</span></span></h2> <div class="post-item-tweet" style="border: 3px solid rgb(253, 38, 38); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 55px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 5px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px; z-index: 5;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=1666568528" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img class="tweet-avatar" height="48" src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/472056889388199936/GaoSzjTz_normal.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="48" /></span></a><div class="tweet-contents" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 65px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h4 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <a class="tweet-date" href="https://twitter.com/AmtAhd/status/480599898014752768" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">06/22/14 06:35 UTC</span></span></a><a class="tweet-username" href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=1666568528" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">@AMTAHD<span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px;"></span></span></a></h4> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">#الدولة_الإسلامية_على_حدود_السعودية نحن لسنا على الحدود بل نحن هنا في بلاد الحرمين وهذه ارضنا .. <a href="http://t.co/lrKG8VkPGq" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://t.co/lrKG8VkPGq</a></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqtvD44CcAEpjEr.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span><div class="tweet-actions" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; margin: -9px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a class="tweet-reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=480599898014752768" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-reply" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=480599898014752768" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-retweet" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-favorite" href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=480599898014752768" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-star" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a></span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Saudi armed forces issued a tacit admission in May that ISIS were already operating and recruiting within the kingdom when it called on the public to report any instances of publication or distribution of ISIS pamphlets.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-tweets" id="post-item-91722" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 1.2em; max-width: 570px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px;"> <div class="no-tweets-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; bottom: -45px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><div class="post-item-tweet" style="border: 3px solid rgb(253, 38, 38); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 55px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 5px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px; z-index: 5;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=2244912001" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img class="tweet-avatar" height="48" src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/411699475812339712/7Zgi0ZR5_normal.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="48" /></span></a><div class="tweet-contents" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 65px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h4 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <a class="tweet-date" href="https://twitter.com/SAUDI_ARMY_NEWS/status/467856173471789056" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">05/18/14 02:36 UTC</span></span></a><a class="tweet-username" href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=2244912001" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">@SAUDI_ARMY_NEWS<span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px;"></span></span></a></h4> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">في حالة الأشتباه او وجود من ينشر مثل هذه المنشورات,الرجاء التبليغ على هذا الرقم 990 #داعش_توزع_منشورات_بالسعودية -<a href="http://t.co/O6zs4j16RJ" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://t.co/O6zs4j16RJ</a></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bn4otRzIQAE9HJD.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span><div class="tweet-actions" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; margin: -9px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a class="tweet-reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=467856173471789056" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-reply" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=467856173471789056" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-retweet" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-favorite" href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=467856173471789056" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-star" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a></span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Photos circulated on Twitter in March that purported to show Saudi military officers holding up signs of support for ISIS.</span></div> <div class="post-item-type post-item-type-tweets" id="post-item-91725" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 1.2em; max-width: 570px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px;"> <div class="no-tweets-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="post-item-type-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a alt="Show sharing options" class="open-share-mobile" href="http://www.vocativ.com/world/iraq-world/saudi-arabia-next-isis-conquest/?utm_campaign=International&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=outbrain#" style="background-image: url(http://www1.vocativ.com/content/themes/vocativ/images/grid-icon-2x.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 35px; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border: 0px; bottom: -45px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 35px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 13px; position: absolute; right: 10px; text-decoration: none; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"></a><div class="post-item-tweet" style="border: 3px solid rgb(253, 38, 38); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 55px; min-width: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 5px 10px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 528px; z-index: 5;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=630668717" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img class="tweet-avatar" height="48" src="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/480789891559608320/v6QfWs8X_normal.jpeg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="48" /></span></a><div class="tweet-contents" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px 65px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <h4 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <a class="tweet-date" href="https://twitter.com/1400MSAF/status/445311484986679296" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">03/16/14 21:31 UTC</span></span></a><a class="tweet-username" href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?user_id=630668717" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">@1400MSAF<span class="fa fa-twitter" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin-left: 5px;"></span></span></a></h4> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“@AsawirtiMedia: #الدولة_الإسلامية_تخترق_الجيش_السعودي<a href="http://t.co/bTuzA3budF%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://t.co/bTuzA3budF”</a> #الدولة_الإسلامية_في_العراق_والشام #السعودية #ال_سعود</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bi3qujLCMAEdjtA.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span><div class="tweet-actions" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; margin: -9px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a class="tweet-reply" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=445311484986679296" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-reply" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-retweet" href="https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=445311484986679296" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-retweet" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a> | <a class="tweet-favorite" href="https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=445311484986679296" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fa fa-star" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block;"></span></a></span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ISIS supporters have published calls on the organization to continue its advance into the kingdom. The appeal of Saudi Arabia for the terrorist group is clear. As the birthplace of Islam and home to some of the religion’s most holiest sites, the country could become the crown jewel for ISIS.</span></div> </div> </div>

Greatest Concern and Fear:Could Saudi Arabia Be the Next ISIS Conquest?

With ISIS on the border, Saudi Arabia is nervous about the terrorist incursion, but remains the source of its greatest support ISIS is...

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